Edmund Zagorski

After 34 years on death row, Edmund Zagorski was scheduled to be executed on Thursday, October 11, 2018 in Tennessee for robbing and murdering John Dale Dotson and Jimmy Porter.

However, on Wednesday, October 10th the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals granted a stay for Mr. Zagorski due to concerns of inadequate representation.

Complicating matters further, a separate federal judge barred Tennessee from using lethal injection to kill Mr. Zagorski after the state denied his request to die by electric chair.

The U.S. Supreme Court rejected the challenge of Tennessee's lethal injection protocol and lifted the stay of execution that the lower court had ordered earlier that Wednesday on the basis of inadequate counsel.

The rulings were issued Thursday evening after Gov. Bill Haslam had already granted a 10-day reprieve earlier that day in order to allow time for the state to prepare for an execution by electric chair.

The 10-day reprieve expired October 21st, and Edmund Zagorksi was given a new execution date of November 1st, 2018. He will be executed by electric chair.

During his time on death row, Mr. Zagorski has never been written up for any behavioral issues and has completely rehabilitated himself, according to his attorney.

Also concerning about this upcoming execution is at the time Edmund Zagorski was sentenced, the jury did not have the option of sentencing him to life in prison without parole. Life in prison without parole is now a sentencing option available in every state.

Jurors from his trial, correctional staff, and the wife of one of the victims have indicated they believe a life sentence without parole would be more suitable and warranted for Mr. Zagorski. Furthermore, the death sentence in this case is disproportional considering similar cases in Tennessee.

CMN’s Mercy in Action Project seeks to promote clemency for those facing imminent execution. By joining the Mercy in Action Project you will receive monthly alerts with information on upcoming executions and tools to advocate for clemency in those cases as well as prayerful resources. Join us as we save lives on death row! The Mercy in Action Project is being partially supported by a grant from The Consistent Life Network, an international pro-life, pro-peace coalition.